by Jason Kramer
Chapter 16
0530Z: Gulf of Oman
The United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet Carrier Strike Group One is steaming back toward the northern end of the Gulf of Oman at flank speed and should arrive later today. Vice Admiral Nelson Pickett, Commander, US Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) has received orders from Admiral Winston to move as quickly as he can into a tactical position in the Gulf of Oman. He has received his orders to be ready to attack tomorrow night.
Vice Admiral Pickett commands his Fifth Fleet Carrier Strike Group from the CVN 74: USS John C. Stennis. In addition to the John C. Stennis aircraft carrier, Carrier Group One consists of Carrier Air Wing Fifteen based at NAS Oceana, Virginia, two Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers and the Destroyer Squadron Three. CTF 54 Submarine Forces is also an element of the Fifth Fleet Strike Force.
Admiral Pickett is keeping the nuclear submarine, USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) near the fleet in the Gulf of Oman to help protect the Carrier Strike Group and the shipping lanes of the Straits of Hormuz from any attempt by the Imperial Iranian Navy to attack the commercial vessels.
Admiral Pickett turns to Captain Sidney Jenkins, the Captain of the USS John C. Stennis, “Captain, get a couple of your F/A-18s and an E-2C, up and flying. We don’t want to attract too much attention but we need keep an eye on the Iranian fleet and their submarines. We are going to stand off about one hundred miles to stay out of range of the Iranian radar. We are going to need the EA-18G Growlers to suppress the Russian and Chinese supplied anti-aircraft radar systems that the Iranians have at their air bases in southern Iran and near Bandar Abbas. We will use the Northrop Grumman X-47 B UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle) to attack the Iranian Naval Missile Frigates and Missile Crafts. Washington says that their intelligence reports indicate that the Iranian Air Defense Forces have the Almaz S-200VE Vega/SA-5B Gammon Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (SAM), the Chinese supplied HQ-2 “Sayyad” 2 (Hunter II) medium range SAMs and the older Mersad anti-aircraft systems at their naval bases and coastal defense facilities.”
Captain Jenkins issues the order to launch the F-18s and the E-2.
Admiral Pickett is depending on the UAE Air Force to assist him in destroying the Imperial Iranian Naval Bases at Bandar Abbas and Sirri Island. The Iranian Navy has approximately seventy-four PTF (patrol torpedo fast) boats based at these facilities. These vessels are highly maneuverable and difficult to track but have a relatively short range. Some of these PTFs are equipped with the “Hoot” supercavitation torpedo and some of these PTFs could be used to disperse naval mines.
The “Hoot” is a reversed engineered version of the Russian V-111 Shkval. It can also be delivered from any of the nineteen “Ghadir” class (midget) submarines that the Iranian Navy has deployed in the Persian Gulf. The ‘Hoot” is a very fast torpedo that can reach speeds of approximately 360 km/hour. It is very difficult to defend against.
The UAE Navy and Air Force’s responsibility will be to destroy as many of these patrol boats and submarines as it can before they can get into a position to use the “Hoot” against Admiral Pickett’s fleet or other naval vessels in the area.
The biggest threat that Admiral Pickett’s fleet will face is the Iranian Navy’s “Ghader” cruise missiles, the C-802 anti-ship missiles from their frigates and missile ships and the land based Kowsar anti-ship missile. The Iranians claim that these weapons are immune to ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) and tracking.
Admiral Pickett orders the guided-missile cruiser, USS Bunker Hill and the guided-missile destroyer, USS Kidd, ahead, through the Straits of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf to Bahrain, the home of the Fifth Fleet. Both vessels are equipped with the AEGIS Combat Missile System and the AN/SLY-1 radar system.
As the Bunker Hill and Kidd pass around the Oman coastline and enter the Straits, an Imperial Iranian Navy Moudge Class Light Frigate and several PTF patrol boats begin to shadow them in an attempt to intimidate the Navy commanders.
The USS Bunker Hill and USS Kidd are armed with RGM-109 Tactical Tomahawk cruise missiles with the Mk. 41 vertical launching system and the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System anti-ship missile defense system. Admiral Pickett wants the USS Bunker Hill and the USS Kidd’s ship launched Tomahawk cruise missiles to attack the early warning surveillance radar, the anti-aircraft Surface to Air Missile sites and runways at Omidiyeh Air Base, Bushehr Air Base and Shiraz Air Base.
1000Z: NAS Sigonella
The Israeli C-130J touches down on Runway 28R and is cleared to continue to the end of the runway. At the end, it exits onto the ramp of the US Naval Air Station. It is met by a US Navy grey “Follow Me” pickup truck that leads the aircraft to a parking position next to a Lyndon Air L-100J that arrived last night. Lyndon Air is a civilian contractor for the United States military and has the newest version of the C-130J built for a civilian operator.
Captain Pete Williams, Base Commander for NAS Sigonella and his Executive Officer are waiting on the ramp. The flight line ground crew is also standing by with trucks to help Colonel Raymond and his men transfer their equipment and supplies to the waiting L-100J for their flight to Nairobi.
When the aircraft comes to a stop, Lt. Colonel Raymond says to his men before disembarking the Israeli C-130J, “Let’s get our equipment on the other aircraft as soon as possible. We want to leave as soon as possible. It is an eight hour flight to Nairobi. Do you need anything?” Everyone shakes their head, no. “I will be back in a few minutes. Monitor the radio frequency. I am going to test these radios with our men on the other plane.” He also takes two satellite telephones with him to give to his men that are with Captain Ray. His men and the Israeli loadmaster start organizing the transfer of their equipment.
Sitting next to the Lyndon Air L-100J, are two United States Air Force C-17s. One arrived yesterday from Ramstein Air Base and the other from Pope Air Force base at 0830Z, this morning. The flight crew of the Pope C-17 aircraft is going through the post flight duties. The US Navy ground crews are preparing both aircraft to receive the Israeli UCAV batteries from the Israeli C-130s that will land in about two hours. Both C-17s will be used transport the Israeli killer drones, “B” Squadron and the remaining GBU-28 bombs. Both C-17s will arrive tonight at Joint Base Balad.
As he walks down the rear ramp, Lt. Colonel Raymond is greeted by NAS Sigonella Base Commander Captain Williams and his Executive Officer. Together, they walk over to the USAF C-17. They walk up the rear ramp of the C-17.Captain Williams introduces Colonel Raymond to Captain Ray.
Already on the aircraft are his two fellow Sayeret Maglan operators that he left in Washington. They are very happy to see each other and they exchange updated information about the mission. Captain Ray takes Lt. Colonel Raymond to meet the members of the Delta Force “B” Squadron. Lt. Colonel Raymond greets each member of the squad personally. He speaks to the Delta team and gives them the updated plan and the latest Israeli intelligence briefing on Natanz.
Surprise, speed and intense violence will be the key to this operation as it is for all special operations hostage rescues. The timing and equipment are critical so everyone checks their watches and sets them to Tehran time. Colonel Raymond gives his men the radios and frequencies for his team’s radios so that everyone is on the same frequency. The Israelis also check the satellite phones that Colonel Raymond gave to them. After answering a few questions, Captain Raymond says goodbye and joins his men on the L-100J, which is just about ready to depart for Nairobi.
The L-100J has already been fueled and the flight crew has received its flight plan and reviewing their route. Their flight will take them over North Africa and down the Red Sea, across Ethiopia, avoiding the Somali airspace and then into Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. They have been there many times before for the US government. They are familiar with the local protocol in Kenya. They are planning on using the US Naval Expeditionary Base, Camp Lemonnier, at Djibouti, as their alternate in case anything unexpected occurs.
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bsp; Lt. Colonel Raymond checks in with his men to make sure that everything is in order and that they are ready to leave. He makes a trip to the cockpit and introduces himself to the flight crew. Everything seems to be ready. He checks the intended route with the pilots and returns to his men in the cargo hold. Settling in for the long flight, he reviews what he has learned from Captain Ray and his two men.
1200Z: Natanz: Iran
It is 3:30 pm and the sunlight is so bright that the hostages are momentarily blinded as they are being led outside with their hands bound and their ankles shackled. Josef and the other hostages are wearing the same drab blue jumpsuit that that is issued to the laborers that work at the Natanz construction sites. A large white X has been painted on the front and back to identify them from other workers wearing this same color jumpsuit. The hostages are led to a remote area away from the rest of the activity that is taking place at the compound. The guards remove the ankle shackles so the men can at least walk around. The hostages are being guarded by ten IRGC soldiers that were handpicked by the Captain of the Guards.
Yosef is wondering why this intelligent and experienced career Iranian officer would grant such a request. This exposure will certainly reveal to the American and Israeli intelligence sources that the hostages are still being held at Natanz. Could there be another motive or is this just a negligent mistake? Regardless of the reason, Yosef knows that the American’s and Mossad’s informants will probably be watching. If the Israelis are seen and recognized, he knows that there will probably be a rescue attempt by the Israelis or Americans.
1600Z: Pentagon
General Taylor calls General Franklin and says, “General, we have just received some photos from the 21th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Joint Base Balad. These photos were uploaded from a Reaper UAV that is flying over Natanz.
It looks like there is a group of men wearing jumpsuits with a large X on their backs. It looks like they are being guarded by Iranian soldiers. And there are twenty four of these men! I believe that these are the Israeli engineers. I do not understand why the Iranians would allow them to be exposed outside. Do you think that it could be some kind of a trick?”
General Franklin is just as surprised and a little confused by this information, also. He thanks General Taylor for this unexpected development.
He places a call to President Fenner. “Mr. President, I have confirmation that the Israelis are still being held at Natanz. One of our UAVs has taken a picture of twenty-four men in jumpsuits with an X on their backs. They are being guarded by Iranian soldiers,” explains General Franklin.
President Fenner replies, “It seems very suspicious to me but let’s stay with our plans. I will notify Prime Minister Yadin, immediately. I do not know why a commander would allow such a blatant act when he must know that our intelligence sources and the Israelis are watching. Let’s see what intelligence information that we have on this Iranian officer. I should be receiving a report from the CIA, soon. When I receive it, maybe we can determine who this person is and if this is a trick or a signal.”
1800Z: Jomo Kenyatta Airport: Kenya
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is located on the high plateau that is situated in central Kenya. The airport, one of the busiest in East Africa, is located about fifteen km southeast of Nairobi. It has served as the African base of operations for the American private security company. The company does contract “security work” for the United States and other governments in Africa and the Middle East.
The Control Tower clears the Kalean Airways Antonov-74TK to land on Runway 06. It is then cleared to taxi to a remote hanger located on the northern side of the airport. There are only a few individuals waiting outside for its arrival. The large hanger doors are opened as it approaches the ramp and the plane taxis in and shuts down its engines. The hanger doors are quickly closed.
The flight crew goes through its normal post flight duties and informs the ground crew of the minor discrepancies that will need some attention before tomorrow’s flight. After informing the company’s ground crew about the write ups, they gather their personal gear and depart for the company’s secured compound in Nairobi for some much needed rest. They will return in the morning at 0500Z to prepare for their flight to Tbilisi, Georgia.
The ground crew begins performing their post flight inspection and will stay up most of the night to correct the minor issues that have been described to them by the flight crew. They will also be here when the Lyndon Air L-100J arrives with Colonel Raymond and his team.
1900Z: Joint Base Balad: Iraq
The first C-17B, Globemaster III, from NAS Sigonella lands at Joint Base Balad in Iraq. It is located just sixty-five km north of Bagdad. It was former US Army and Air Force base that has been used after it was captured from the Iraqi Air Force. It was recently handed back over to the Iraqi Security Forces but the United States Air Force and US Army still use it as Logistics Support Area (LSA). US Air Force Air Traffic Controllers are still present with the Iraqi Controllers in the Air Traffic Control facilities at Joint Base Balad and the other facilities at Kirkuk Airport in the north and Ali Air Base in the south.
This C-17B is bringing the Delta Forces “B” Squadron” and the Harop Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle battery. This aircraft was the first to arrive since it took a northern route from NAS Sigonella over the Mediterranean Sea to Turkey avoiding Syrian and Iranian airspace and then south to Joint Base Balad.
The other C-17B took a southern route over Egypt and Saudi Arabia and is approaching the base from the southwest. It is bringing the Harpy UCAV batteries and the rest of the GBU-28 bombs that will be transported to the UAE Air Force in Abu Dhabi.
As the first C-17 is being unloaded, Captain Ray and his men are taken to the US Army’s quarters at Camp Anaconda to get some rest. The Air Force ground crews begin to unload the Harop UCAV battery. The Israeli Harop technicians and operators, dressed as civilians, are supervising and inspecting their equipment. The crews reposition the munitions unit, mission control shelter and the launcher vehicles to a large hanger located on the northeast corner of the field to be kept out of sight until tomorrow night. The Israeli technicians and operators will remain in the hangar with their equipment, tonight.
Parked on the ramp outside the hanger are the five USAF CV-22Bs and the MC-130P that flew in from RAF Mildenhall, yesterday afternoon. The 23rd Special Operations Squadron technicians that flew in the C-130P are working late tonight to service and prepare the Ospreys for their mission, tomorrow night.
Just as the ground crews have finished the unloading the first C-17, the second C-17B lands. The process of unloading this C-17 and the Harpy vehicles begins. Its sealed launcher/container units, battery control center trucks and technicians are also repositioned to the same hanger to be hidden until tomorrow night.
2000Z: Jomo Kenyatta Airport: Kenya
Two hours after the Kalean Air AN-74TK arrived; the Lyndon Air L-100J arrives from NAS Sigonella, as planned. It is directed to park in front of the company’s hanger. Its arrival does not draw much attention. Lyndon Air has been flying into this airport for years. The government of Kenya and the air traffic controllers are familiar with this aircraft.
Nevertheless, Colonel Raymond and his team will stay in the aircraft tonight and out of sight. The company’s ground crew begins to unload the normal cargo shipment and the Israeli’s equipment into the hanger.
The ground crew brings some sandwiches, soft drinks and bottled water supplies to the aircraft for the Israelis. After the crew finishes unloading the cargo and equipment, Colonel Raymond and his men settle down to get some rest. The Lyndon Air flight crew packs up their gear and is transported to the company’s secured compound in Nairobi. A company Chevrolet Suburban with armed American guards is used to transport the pilots and crew. This is to make sure that no one interferes or comes in contact with the aircraft’s crews until this mission is completed.
2200Z: White House: Washington, DC
“Mr. President, we have information about the IRGC Commander of Natanz. His name is Colonel Behnam Radan. It seems that he is a very loyal career military officer but his loyalties may not be with the present Islamic Revolutionary regime. Our psychologists have done a study of the information that we have about Colonel Radan. He comes from a military family and his father, was a career Iranian Army officer, who was loyal to the Shah of Iran. His father was executed during the purge because he would not renounce his loyalty to the Shah and pledge his loyalty to the Islamic Revolutionary Republic,” states the Director of the CIA.
The President and General Franklin are listening to the Director’s report. Both men are wondering how all this will play into the situation at Natanz. The General is wondering if this officer is sending the Americans a message.
The CIA Director continues, “The son did pledge his allegiance but has not involved himself in politics of the IRGC. As you know, the IRGC is very influential in all aspects of Iranian society. Radan served on the front lines during the Iran-Iraq War and was wounded. He lost a leg but remained in the IRGC Pasdaran and became the IRGC Commander of the Natanz security ground forces. He does not have a family and lives a very quiet, austere life. Our psychologists believe that he may not be a willing participant in this kidnapping. They have studied his facial expressions during the television broadcast and conclude that this man is not a criminal. He may be waiting for the current regime to fail and for Iran to return to what it was before the revolution. Our sources at Natanz believe that Colonel Radan is a fair man and a competent leader so we have no logical explanation why he would allow his prisoners to be seen outside. Based on what we know, I believe that he is sending us a message that the Israelis have not been moved, yet.”
President Fenner says to General Franklin, “Notify the other Chiefs of Staff that Operation Final Notice is a go. I will call the Prime Minister, immediately to give him this latest information.”
General Franklin confirms with President Fenner that he will issue the final orders to attack. He thanks the Director and leaves for his car to take him back to the Pentagon. During the ride, he calls Admiral Rogers, General Taylor, Vice Admiral Delker and General Williamson.
It is midnight in Tel Aviv when President Fenner calls Prime Minister Yadin. The Israeli Prime Minister is still awake and conferring with the Minister of Defense and the Director of Mossad.
“Mr. Prime Minister, I am calling to advise you of some evidence that we received that may indicate that your engineers are still being held at the Natanz facility. We received pictures of a group of twenty-four men dressed in worker’s jumpsuits being guarded while they were outside of the underground buildings. We believe that these men are your engineers. I have issued the final orders to attack the Natanz and Fordo nuclear enrichment facilities and proceed with the rescue. I am also sending a copy of a psychological workup of the commander at Natanz. It seems that he may be sending us a message that your men are still at Natanz. He has to know that our satellites are watching Natanz. ” President Fenner says.
“Mr. President, thank you for that information. The people of Israel and I are very grateful for your support and loyalty. I will have our intelligence experts review the information that you are sending. Thank you very much, Mr. President,” replies the Prime Minister and hangs up.
The Prime Minister turns to Defense Minister Gadi and the Director of Mossad Amat and says, “The Americans have verified our information. Send the final go ahead to Colonel Raymond and your agents in Tehran. If the Americans report about the Iranian Commander of Natanz has some important information, send it also. Give the final orders to the Air Force and Army to prepare for retaliation from Iran for our attacks on Natanz and the other nuclear facilities.”
Director Amat tells the Prime Minister, “Our agents received this same information from their sources inside Natanz. The engineers were allowed outside to exercise. They have also found a military truck park at the Kashan Airport that is located about twenty-five km from Natanz. They are going to steal a military truck from there to transport Colonel Raymond and his men from the drop zone.”
2200Z: Sakhir Air Base: Kingdom of Bahrain
The visibility is decreasing due to a sand storm that is approaching from the east. The USAF Boeing 747-400F YAL-1A (Airborne Laser) makes the approach and lands at the military base located in the center of the island nation. It exits the runway and taxis to the ramp behind the “Follow Me” truck. The US Navy has a ground crew from the US Naval Support Activity base standing by to secure the aircraft for the night. They rush to get the protective covers on the engines and on the sensitive areas of the ABL (Airborne Laser) system and the infrared sensors. The sand storm has moved into the area from across the Gulf and will hopefully pass through before tomorrow night.
The ABL was designed to be used against tactical ballistic missiles (TBM) launches. The infrared sensors are used for initial detection of the missile in the boost stage. Then a smaller laser will calculate the distance and trajectory of the launched missile. Once the computers have this information, the main laser is shot at the missile. It heats the skin of the missile for about three to four seconds causing it to fail and the missile to self destruct itself. The main laser of YAL-1A is fueled for approximately twenty shots before it has to land and refuel the laser, again.
